Do what you can to avoid the flu

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 2:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 2:51 p.m.

Although our annual confrontation with the flu is usually a bit later in the year arriving, it is definitely here now.

“On a daily basis we’ve documented a very large number of patients testing positive for both flu types A and B,” said Dr. Michael Marcello with Ochsner St. Anne Family Doctor Clinic in Mathews.

For far too many people each year, contracting the flu means death. This is particularly true of the old and the young, as well as those who have complicating medical conditions already.

Across the nation, it is estimated that the flu kills 36,000 people in an average year.

That number seems shockingly high. But the fact is that we are all perilously close to catching the flu, and those who are most vulnerable can easily fall prey.

The number of deaths from the flu, though, tells only part of the story. The larger, much more common part of the story is the tens of thousands of people who catch the flu each year and struggle with its misery and inconvenience for days.

If you’ve had the flu, you know the awful symptoms. And you don’t need convincing to try to avoid it in the future.

For some, though, the flu just sounds like a more-severe form of the common cold. It is not. It is a serious illness that is more than worth going to great lengths to evade.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go to great lengths. You just have to do a few simple things to significantly reduce your chances of catching the flu.

First, and most importantly, get a flu shot if you have not done so already. The flu shot will ward off the illness for most, but it is not completely effective.

To further protect yourself, avoid people who have the flu.

This sounds like common-sense advice, but it is something we all need to do.

The easiest way for this to happen is for those who are suffering from the flu to stay in until they recover rather than getting out and spreading their germs and potentially life-threatening illness to unsuspecting coworkers and others.

Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eye, nose or mouth to keep from ingesting germs you probably don’t even know you are carrying.

Please cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Again, while this might sound like a common courtesy, it is not common enough.

We will surely see instances of the flu, and many of us will fall victim to it. But if you do these little things, the chances will drop. That means you and the people at home and at work will be less likely to suffer the horrible effects.

<p>We are in the thick of flu season.</p><p>Although our annual confrontation with the flu is usually a bit later in the year arriving, it is definitely here now.</p><p>“On a daily basis we've documented a very large number of patients testing positive for both flu types A and B,” said Dr. Michael Marcello with Ochsner St. Anne Family Doctor Clinic in Mathews.</p><p>For far too many people each year, contracting the flu means death. This is particularly true of the old and the young, as well as those who have complicating medical conditions already.</p><p>Across the nation, it is estimated that the flu kills 36,000 people in an average year.</p><p>That number seems shockingly high. But the fact is that we are all perilously close to catching the flu, and those who are most vulnerable can easily fall prey.</p><p>The number of deaths from the flu, though, tells only part of the story. The larger, much more common part of the story is the tens of thousands of people who catch the flu each year and struggle with its misery and inconvenience for days.</p><p>If you've had the flu, you know the awful symptoms. And you don't need convincing to try to avoid it in the future.</p><p>For some, though, the flu just sounds like a more-severe form of the common cold. It is not. It is a serious illness that is more than worth going to great lengths to evade.</p><p>Fortunately, you don't have to go to great lengths. You just have to do a few simple things to significantly reduce your chances of catching the flu.</p><p>First, and most importantly, get a flu shot if you have not done so already. The flu shot will ward off the illness for most, but it is not completely effective.</p><p>To further protect yourself, avoid people who have the flu.</p><p>This sounds like common-sense advice, but it is something we all need to do.</p><p>The easiest way for this to happen is for those who are suffering from the flu to stay in until they recover rather than getting out and spreading their germs and potentially life-threatening illness to unsuspecting coworkers and others.</p><p>Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eye, nose or mouth to keep from ingesting germs you probably don't even know you are carrying.</p><p>Please cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Again, while this might sound like a common courtesy, it is not common enough.</p><p>We will surely see instances of the flu, and many of us will fall victim to it. But if you do these little things, the chances will drop. That means you and the people at home and at work will be less likely to suffer the horrible effects.</p><p>Do what you can to stay healthy.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>